Haruna Abdulrashid
The Federal Government has confirmed one case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following laboratory confirmation on October 20, 2026.
The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the government said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) was working closely with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further spread.
The statement said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified so far. Public health teams are identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed to the virus, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
It added that surveillance had been intensified, while the hospital was receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The Federal Government urged all public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert.
It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control measures, and immediately report suspected cases to public health authorities.
According to the statement, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease or has died from it, as well as contact with contaminated materials.
It clarified that a person infected with Ebola cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.
The government recalled that Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, noting that the country had the experience and public health systems required to respond to the current case.
However, it stressed that containing the disease required collective responsibility and cooperation from the public.
The statement added that the Federal Government, FCT authorities and relevant partners were working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public.
It said investigations were ongoing and pledged to provide accurate and timely information as the situation developed.
Nigerians were urged to remain calm, stay vigilant and cooperate with public health authorities, with the government emphasising that early detection, prompt reporting and public cooperation were critical to preventing further spread.
The government said the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the NCDC would continue to provide updates on the situation.